Page 23 of Marriage (Red, White &) Blues

“I love you guys. I hope you know that,” I said.

We wrapped up the call and I finished packing. It wasn’t too long before I had Pen, Ant, and Sierra filling my living room waiting on me.

“I’ve got perishables. My fridge will?—”

“I’ll clean it for you,” Sierra said. “You’ve got nothing to worry about here.”

Nope. Not here.

Vermont. Now that was a different story.

On the drive to the airport, Ant asked, “What’s Blake’s last name?”

“Why? You want to hire a hitman?”

Ant chuckled. “No. I just want to know the name of the man who won the heart of one of the best women I know.”

God, I loved Ant.

“Parker. His name is Blake Parker.”

“Blake…Parker? Of the Vermont Parkers? Is his father Robert Parker?”

“I don’t know. Why?”

“Because, girl, that family…” He trailed off, shaking his head.

“What? You can’t do that. You can’t start to say something and then not finish. That’s like a doctor asking about a family history of cancer when you’ve gotten a lump biopsied and not telling you the results. Are they fascists or something?”

“I wouldn’t call them fascists, but they’re conservative enough to make the Von Duttons and McCains look downright liberal.”

“Are you serious? I can’t have married into a family like that. Pen, your family hated me. My in-laws are going to hate me.”

“That’s not possible,” she said sweetly. “Not if Blake loves you. You might have to find your groove with them in the beginning, but you’re Gloria Kowalski. People can’t help loving you.”

I appreciated what she was trying to do, but it didnotwork. I felt sick.

They got me to the airport. Everyone received their hugs and the next thing I knew my butt was boarding a plane for Vermont.First class. Blake sent me a ticket for first class. I inwardly squeed. Then I got comfortable and tried to sleep for the duration of the flight, which admittedly wasn’t very long. Less than two hours nonstop if I were landing in say, Burlington. But Blake had me flying into Lebanon Municipal Airport in New Hampshire. Still, I couldn’t really complain about a three-hour flight.

Nerves started getting to me the closer to New Hampshire we flew. When the captain announced we were preparing for landing, I thought I might’ve been invaded by a colony of butterflies. After three months apart, how would he react to seeing me? How awkward was it going to get? Why did I agree to come here?

The plane touched down and rolled to a stop. Then the seatbelt sign went off and we were invited to depart the aircraft. I slung my purse around my body and my backpack over one shoulder then disembarked with the rest of the travelers. I felt tired. I felt anxious. My heart beat so rapidly, it hurt my chest. Given it was the middle of the night, not many people waited to greet us.

I scanned the room and my eyes fell on the most handsome man in the place. He wore jeans and a lavender button-down, along with brown, soft, leather loafers. His black bangs hung just a little bit shaggy as if he’d run his fingers through them a few times. His dimple took my breath away.

“Glory.” He smiled my name once reaching me. The man wrapped me in his arms and I melted. I didn’t mean to. Honestly? I’d planned to make him work for it, but the moment those arms hugged me, all my plans went out the metaphorical window. Then he pressed his lips to mine. Aromance novelkiss—again. In an airport, no less.

“Hey, husband,” I finally managed to get out.

“Missed you more than you know. C’mon. Let’s get your bag and head home.”

Let’s get my bag…

…and head home.

Wow.

Okay.

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